Group's Rezoning Request Must Consider New Road

Waukegan — City officials have put on hold an Islamic religious group's request to rezone a 9.7-acre site along South O'Plaine Road for the possible future construction of a mosque.

The request of the Islamic Foundation North was held in the City Council Judiciary Committee recently after committee chairman Ald. Larry TenPas said he wanted the group to present a more complete development plan.

Foundation officials are seeking to have their site rezoned from office use to single-family residential use, which permits construction of houses of worship. The group purchased the site, on the east side of O'Plaine between the Tri-State Tollway (Interstate Highway 94) and Regency Woods Drive, in August.

Judiciary Committee members held over the request after it was first presented Nov. 21 because they wanted foundation officials to consider allowing the city to build an access road through the site. The group has said it has no objections.

TenPas told foundation attorney Kenneth J. Glick that he wanted a site plan to ensure there would be no negative effects on the area or new traffic problems if and when a mosque is built.

Glick replied that the properties surrounding the foundation's land are zoned for single-family residential use, and the access road would relieve traffic from O'Plaine.

Glick said last month the foundation has no immediate plans to build a mosque.